Clamp.



v G. L. HOPPER.

GLAMB.

APPLICATION FILED DBO.31,1907.

Patented Now-10, 1908.

WITNESSES A TTORNE Y5 GEORGE L. HOFFER, OF LAUREL, MISSISSIPPI.

CLAMP.

Specification of Letters l atent.

Patented Nov. 10, 1908.

Application filed December 31, 1907. Serial No. 408,745.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE L. HoFFER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Laurel, in the county of Jones and State of Mississippi,have invented a new and useful Clamp, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to clamps and is particularly designed for use inconnection with molding flasks.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple two-piece clamp whichcan be quickly adjusted to flasks of different sizes and can be quicklychanged so as to be used either as a U-clamp or a Z-clamp.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists of certainnovel features of construction and combinations of parts which will behereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings is shown the preferred form of theinvention.

In said drawings: Figure 1 is a view partly in section and partly inelevation of a clamp embodying the present improvements. Fig. 2 is asimilar view showing the same adjusted for use as a Z-clamp. Fig. 3 isan enlarged section on line ac -x, Fig. 1, one of the guide projectionsbeing shown in section.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, 1 designates thebase member of the clamp, the same having a jaw 2 extending from the endof one face thereof and at right angles thereto. The opposite. face ofthe member 1 is channeled lon 'itudinally as indicated at 3 and theinner wal of this channel is provided with ratchet teeth 4. That end ofthe channel farthest removed from aw 2 is open and also provided withoppositely dis osed projections 5 preferably semi-spher ica and whichare for the purpose hereinafter set forth. The adjustable member of theclamp consists of a bar 6 having a jaw 7 extending at right angles fromone end thereof, while the other end of the bar has teeth 8 and 9extending from opposite faces thereof and designed to engage the ratchet4. Grooves 10 are formed in opposite side faces of the jaw 7 and bar 6,said grooves extending from the outer end of the jaw throughout thelength thereof and thence longitudinally of the bar 6. The groovesterminate at points between the teeth 8 and 9, said grooves beingpreferably enlarged at these points as shown at 11. 'The grooves are ofsufficient depth to permit the projections 5 to extend loosely thereintoas indicated in Fig. 3. The outer end of jaw 7 is preferably tapered asindicated at 12 for the purpose hereinafter set forth. When it isdesired to use the device as a U-clamp jaw 7 is placed in alinement withthe open end of channel 3 and with bar 6 and jaw 2 extending inoppositedirections. The aw 7 is then inserted into the channel so thatthe projections 5 will ride within the groove .10. The bar 6 is thenswung downward into alinement with the bar 1 and slid into the channel 3until the projections 5 assume positions within the enlarged portions 11of the grooves. Bar 6 is then swung upward with the projections 5 as apivot until the two jaws assume parallel positions as indicated at Fig.1 whereupon bar 6 can be pushed inward so as to cause channel 8 to slipover the teeth of the ratchet 4. The parts may be detached by reversingthe foregoing operation.

Should it be desired to use the device as a Z-clamp the bar 6' is placedat right angles to the bar 1 and with its jaw 7 within the channel 3 andpointed toward the prejections 5. Said jaw is then slid between theprojections and the bar 6 swung downward into the channel 3 as shown inFig. 2. The channel 9 will thus be brought into engagement with theratchet 4. It will be seen that the clamp is of very simple, durable andefficient construction and inasmuch as it is formed of but two parts itcan not get out of order. The device can be quickly adjusted to flasksof different proportions and by reason of the peculiar disposition ofthe parts the engagement of the teeth and ratchet will be increased inproportion to the pressure exerted upon the jaws 2 and 7. By taperingthe jaw 12 the same can be readily inserted into the open end of thechannel without binding upon the adjoining end of the ratchet in channel3. By enlarging grooves 10 as indicated at 11 it is possible to swingthe bar 6 upon the projections 5 without causing the teeth 8 and 9 toengage the adjoining portion of the ratchet.

What is claimed is:

1. A clamp comprising a channeled member having retaining means withinthe chan nel and a jaw, and an adjustable member interposed between andslidably and pivotally engaging the retaining means, said adjustablemember having an integral jaw, and separate means u on the members forholding the jaws in a justed relation.

2. A clamp comprising a channeled mem her, a retaining device withinsaid member, a slidable member Within the channel and detachably andpivotally engaging the rechanneled member, and oppositely disposedretaining devices within the channel; of a longitudinally grooved memberinterposed between and slidably and pivotally engaging the retainingdevices, jaws extending from the members, and separate means upon saidmembers for locking the jaws in adjus'ted relation.

5. A clamp com rising a channeled memher, a ratchet wit iin saidchannel, and oppositely disposed retaining means within the channel;- ofa' longitudinally grooved member movably mounted within the channel,said grooves being disposed to receive the retaining devices, means uponsaid member for adjustably engaging the ratchet, and jaws extending fromthe members, said grooved member being 'slida'bly and pivotally mountedupon the retaining devices.

6. In a clamp the' combination with a channeled member and a retainingdevice within the; channel; of a reversible longitudinally groovedmember movably mounted Within the channel, the retaining device beinseated within the groove, jaws extendingv from the members, and separatemeans upon the members for locking the jaws in adjusted relation, saidgrooved mem her being pivotally and slidably mounted upon the retainingdevice.

7. In a clamp the combination with a I channeled member, and aprojection within 1 the channel; of an adjustable member having alongitudinal groove constituting a seat for the pro ection, sald memberbeing reversible and slidable within the groove, aws

extending from the members, and se' arate' means for locking the jaws inadjuste rela tion, said adjustable member being pivot-7 ally andsl-idably mounted upon the projection.

8. In a clamp the combination with a longitudinally channeled member,said channel being 0 en at one end, a ratchet within the channe, and aprojection within the open end of the channel; of a slidable andreversible member having a longitudinal groove disposed to receive theprojection, oppositely extending teeth at one end of said member anddisposed to engage the ratchet, and jaws extending from the mem bers,said reversible member being slidably and pivotally mounted upon theprojection.

9. The combination with a longitudinally channeled member, said channelbeing open at one end and throughout its length, there being a ratchetwithin the channel, and a projection within the open end of the channel;of a member mountedwithin the channel, said member being longitudinallygrooved for the reception of the projection and mounted to slide andswing upon the

